Public Hearing—Softball Complex

A required public hearing was held over the issue of the softball/baseball complex across from MHS on Jenkins.  A Special Use permit was filed with the city Planning and Zoning Board, which recommended approving the construction permit.  The property is planned to be the location of a sports complex, built with funds from the bond equalization that is the source of funding for the new elementary school.  The permit lays out a map detailing a series of construction phases.  The council felt that it would be a good idea to hear from representatives of the school district.  The plans for the area were reported to be final.  Tyrell Neal motioned to approve the special use permit, and Larry Thomas seconded.  The motion passed.

Zoning Hearing—Zoning Hearing Speeds Storage

Speeds Storage proposed a rezone of the property on which the storage facility lies from Residential to Commercial.  The property’s owners are requesting the rezone in order to allow for the construction of a second row of storage units, which would not be possible in a Residential area.  The units will be built ten feet from the front and the east property line.  PZ recommended approving the rezone.  Lance Tripp asked whether the parking meets the code requirements.  Parking requirements are based on the square footage of the business, with a number of spaces correlated to it.  The proposed 15-foot units will meet the setback requirements.  The units are around 6’8” in height, and made of galvanized steel.  Councilman Tripp asked about the buildings’ description as “nonpermanent”.  The individual storage units, which are similar to shipping containers, can be moved by forklift, which is what makes them nonpermanent.  Tyrell Neal moved to approve the rezoning request, which passed.  

Amanda Collins, SICOG

Amanda Collins and Nate Mortimer from SICOG spoke to the City Council about grants for playgrounds.  Typical playground projects through SICOG use block grants.  Community Development Block Grant applications will require a new income survey.  Collins asked whether the city had any other needs that might be addressable through the program.  Other projects scheduled for the next five or so years could be applied for through the same system, once the income survey was completed.  It might be possible to include several projects throughout the park itself.  Plans for the co-op, culinary water system, secondary water system, and others were raised as potential options for packaging the grant applications with in order to qualify for a free income survey.  A plan to begin filling in the grass in the city park to extend the areas usable for sports was also discussed.  

Youth Council

A student from MHS had approached the mayor about joining the youth council.  The members of the council agreed to extend the deadline for application to the end of September.  Jason Spencer, Kelty Thomas, and Tatum Hess all applied to become part of the Mayor’s Youth Council.  The concern was that new move-ins, or people who apply late to the council, might be shut out of the process.  The by-laws allow for 15 people, the council will now have 14 members.  The membership of the three new members was ratified by the city council.  

Sidewalk Ordinance 

The ordinance in Malad regulating sidewalks has been on the books for almost 70 years.  Ordinance 251, “regarding construction and repair of sidewalks,” was adopted in 1955.  Over the years, the purpose of the ordinance has been to avoid liability.  City attorney Dustin Smith felt that in general the ordinance was still suitable, though there may be some elements that could use some clarification or updating.  He suggested that adopting a new ordinance would be the best way to deal with any issues that might arise in the future and need to be dealt with.  Tyrell Neal raised the question of how snow removal is covered in the ordinance.  It appeared that snow was not specifically covered.  The City Council is given the authority to resolve to have sidewalks repaired at the owner’s expense.  

ICRMP

The city discussed the potential for nominating the mayor to serve as the representative to ICRMP.  Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad is currently the representative from Malad’s district.  The mayor expressed that she did not want to be nominated to the position.

PZ

The Planning and Zoning board will need to fill one of its positions by the beginning of next year.  Brad Coleman will be leaving the position.  Shelly Williams asked the council to think about potential nominations to the board.  The issue of the ordinances surrounding fences was raised.  The issue will come up fairly soon based on current requests, according to Williams.  

Business Licenses

Analysis and data automation services company Data Force was approved for a business license in Malad.

Comprehensive Plan

Due to time considerations, the Comprehensive Plan for the city was not visited at the meeting.  The plan lays out a vision for development in the city into the future, allowing decisions about commerce, infrastructure, and resources to follow an established plan.  The comprehensive review is also required for a number of grant and program applications.  A comprehensive plan is currently in place, but requires periodic updating.

Board reorganizations

The Community Foundation and the Recreation Board will need to be reorganized.   

The Oneida Recreation board is undergoing reorganization, bringing it more clearly under the auspices of the city council.  The board will operate in a similar manner to the way it has operated in the past, but with budget approval from the city council.  Many of the current board members are considering resigning at the end of the season.  The mayor will appoint new members based on a list of recommendations.  The current rec board has existed for a long time, and some of its operations had raised concerns about whether it was working within the protections of a city board.  Because the board receives funds from the city and county, it was determined that a more direct relationship between the board and the city was necessary.  Only elected officials can tax, touch, or spend tax money.  The board will be given a budget by the city, which can be structured flexibly, and allow for as little disruption in its activities as possible.  The board would likely propose a budget that could be approved by the city.  Some of the steps necessary to create a more formalized board structure were discussed.  Keeping minutes, creating agendas, determining finances.  The recreation board hosts activities from June through the end of September.  

Superintendent’s report

A bid for a salt shed has been received at a total price of $36,536.  A motion to accept the bid and move forward with the structure to store road salt for the winter for $36,536 passed.

Two water leaks have been fixed.  Additional leaks on HWY 38 and Evans will be worked on next.

John Christopherson

Code Enforcement Officer John Christopherson reported on how the new position has been going.  He reported that so far there have been “seven dog jail days.”  Four licenses have been purchased.  He has begun speaking with residents about ordinances related to fencing, properties, etc.  Christopherson expressed his belief that Planning and Zoning, Tory Richardson, and Christopherson need to coordinate with one another to be more efficient and create a consistent mechanism for enforcement.  Christopherson also reported that he had issued ten warnings for animals or weeds, as well as one citation.  Any homeowners living outside the city will be contacted through mail to respond to ordinance violations.  

An issue with wild turkeys was reported to Code Enforcement.  Fish and Game has been contacted about suitable methods for dealing with the wild turkeys in town.  At present, there isn’t a clear recommendation.  

Christopherson received a bid for a Ranger Ultimate side by side from Alberts in Malad.  The vehicle has a cab with a heater/AC.  A kit will be installed to make it street legal.  The bid is for $32,500.  “Dog Boxes” can be placed on the back of the vehicle for help with impounding animals.  A motion to accept the bid was passed for $32,500.

A badge for Christopherson was also ordered.  

Christopherson reported that he is keeping a list of dog owners who are frequently involved in calls.  He also talked about surrendered dogs and what the city will do with them.  Currently, all the rescue locations are full, and independent adoption/foster situations are also being sought.  

Potential options for less than lethal engagement with animals were discussed.  Mace, pellet guns, and non-lethal weapon options were raised.  

The question was raised about the city’s future intentions with regard to the dog pound.   He has sought a quote for a roughly 20 by 20 structure.  He is looking into kennels and other necessities for upgrading and maintaining the current facility, which is on 100 W.  The older structure has been refitted and improved over the last two years, but still has a number of issues that make it less than ideal, and a long-term solution will eventually need to be put into place.

The potential for beginning to deal with stray and feral cats was discussed, as their numbers have been notably increasing.

Treasurer’s Report 

The general budget and accounts were discussed.  The issue of adding handicapped striping to the parking spots downtown was raised.

Council Reports

Larry Thomas mentioned that the co-op committee had a question about whether they could place a nativity in the co-op window.  Areas around town with weed issues were mentioned.

Tyrell Neal informed the council that the Iron Door Theatre will be hosting the spook alley at the theatre.  Other locations had been discussed, as the theatre itself is preparing for the Music Man, which will premiere next month.  Neal suggested locations for the city’s street sweeper.  

Jaime Olsen informed the council that next Thursday, October 19, is the Impact Zone Public Hearing.  The hearing will allow residents of the city and county to make their thoughts about the redrawn Impact Zone plan known.  The feedback of residents within the Impact Zone (which is mostly the area within a half mile of the city limits) is especially being sought. 

Lance Tripp stated that the pickleball court was now completely done, though there are two lights at the court that need to be looked at.  No snow removal will be allowed on the courts, as it damages the surface.  It had also been discovered that the lights on the walking path are directional, and they not currently all are pointed at the walking path.  They will be reoriented to point at the path.  

Mayor Joan Hawkins discussed a Forest Service Grant.  The city asked for two million for the grant, but received one million.  It is unclear what it has been approved for, as there were so many items in the proposal.  The council was hopeful that the funds might be used for a sprinkling system in the park.  

The city will be planting flowers in the area behind the Vet’s memorial.  The council discussed self-filling water buckets.  There are no specific plans until spring to begin installing anything.